Key facts
- Spirit Airlines' 22 flight slots at LaGuardia Airport are being auctioned.
- The slots are valued at approximately $87 million.
- The FAA head supports allocating slots to a low-cost carrier or retiring them.
- Spirit Airlines ceased operations on May 2, 2026.
Spirit Airlines' 22 flight slots at New York's LaGuardia Airport are now subject to an auction process following the airline's bankruptcy and cessation of operations on May 2, 2026. The slots, valued at approximately $87 million in an April court filing, represent a significant opportunity for carriers seeking to operate at the congested airport.
Bryan Bedford, the head of the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), has stated that these slots should ideally be allocated to another low-cost carrier to benefit the public. If this is not feasible, Bedford suggested that the slots should be retired to help alleviate congestion at LaGuardia. As of summer 2025, Spirit Airlines held 22 slots, placing it above Frontier Airlines with ten slots and Porter Airlines with six.
The bankruptcy court has initiated the sale process, but securing a buyer for these coveted slots could prove challenging.